The University of Texas at Tyler soccer teams and the Coats for Kids program will team-up this weekend to help Tyler-area children in need this winter.

Anyone brining a coat or making a donation of at least $10 to the Coats for Kids program at the UT Tyler home soccer games this weekend will receive two free tickets to any UT Tyler basketball game during the 2004-2005 season.

“The support for our teams has been so great that we wanted to use this occasion as an opportunity to direct that support towards the children in the community,” said UT Tyler head women’s soccer coach Jodi Lovell.

New or gently worn coats can be brought to the concession stand at the soccer games. Winter coats of all sizes, from infants to teens, will be accepted. In addition, jackets, hats and mittens will gladly be accepted.

The Patriots will play back-to-back home games this weekend, hosting Schreiner University on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the women and 3 p.m. for the men team. On Sunday UT Tyler will entertain Texas Lutheran at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. All games are played at the UT Tyler soccer field on the University’s campus